Ultra-Orthodox Jew Held Over Iran Spy Claims

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man has been charged by Israeli authorities with offering to spy for Iran in exchange for money.

The 47-year-old - whose identity is protected by a gag order - confessed to acting out of "hatred for Israel" when he flew to Berlin and contacted the Iranian embassy offering to collect intelligence in 2011.

The accused is a member of an anti-Zionist ultra-conservative sect, Naturei Karta, which opposes Israel's existence on religious grounds.

According to an indictment filed by the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office, the man approached Iranian embassy officials wearing traditional haredi [ultra-Orthodox] clothing and said he was ready to cooperate with them.

He even offered to "kill a Zionist" if necessary.

Authorities said the man kept in touch with Iranian officials thorough a dedicated email account which he accessed from different internet cafes in Jerusalem.

He was subsequently arrested by Israel's security agency Shin Bet.

The man is facing charges of intent to commit treason and contacting a foreign agent at Jerusalem District Court.

Naturei Karta - Aramaic for 'Guardians of the City' - was founded in 1938 and is opposed to the existence of a Jewish state until the coming of the Jewish messiah.

Adherents to the sect have met with Iranian leaders in Iran and also Hezbollah officials in Beirut in the past.